SHAMROCK ROVERS survived two late scares to take something from their trip to Tolka Park.
First, Ed McGinty produced a late save to deny James Norris a debut derby winner for Shelbourne.
The on-loan Liverpool defender tried his luck with under four minutes on the clock.
But Rovers keeper McGinty was equal to the effort, gathering at the second attempt.
It was not the only nervous moment late on with Dan Cleary slicing his attempt to clear Evan Caffrey’s cross but, luckily for the visitors, it spun wide of the post instead of inside of it.
It was enough to ensure that the Hoops, in just their second game, for their first point of the new campaign as Shels, in their third, dropped points for the time.
Although there was an absence of clearcut chances, the hosts will feel more aggrieved at failing to take maximum points.
They showed more urgency and attacking intent but, having taken an early lead, were architects of their own downfall as they gifted Rovers an equaliser.
The Hoops, for their part, were dogged in defence and worked hard to ensure they got a share of the spoils but lacked the fluency going forward for which they are renowned.
The late postponement of their home game against Cork City last Sunday gave Stephen Bradley’s men extra time to recover from their agonising European exit on penalties to Molde.
But they found themselves on the back foot here almost immediately when they fell behind with less than two minutes gone when Rovers failed to deal with a set-piece.
From the corner, Kerr McInroy picked out the unmarked Kameron Ledwidge who was loitering with intent just outside the box.
His well-struck shot hit Roberto Lopes and, in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, Harry Wood forced the ball home with Lee Grace also picking up an injury which meant he was unable to continue.
Wood’s goal celebration was presumably a tribute to Ledwidge’s fishing pastime after a picture of his capture of a 19lb pike was carried in previews.
His replacement Cory O’Sullivan looked like he might be off as soon as he was on when he was caught but, after limping around for a few minutes, he managed to shake it off.
But Shels too were forced into an early change with Sam Bone being replaced by Norris who came on for his debut at left-back with Ledwidge moving in at centre-back.
The ex-England youth international may be small in stature but he has no problem throwing himself into the midst of the cut and thrust of this Dublin derby.
Although the quality – not helped by a pitch which still has much room for improvement – might not have been great, there was enough in the contest to absorb the crowd which included Ireland assistant boss John O’Shea and a host of former Dublin footballers including Peadar Andrews and Brian Fenton.
Shels’ front two of Mipo Odubeko and Sean Boyd have linked up well so far this season with the former charging down a McGinty clearance with the latter booked for diving.
And the home side looked well in control until they gifted Rovers an equaliser in the 16th minute.
Josh Honohan’s cross from the right looked like it would be bread and butter for Conor Kearns to deal with, and it was until, when he was coming back down, he collided with team-mate Paddy Barrett and spilled the ball.
It fell nicely for Aaron McEneff who did not look a gift horse in the mouth as he scored his first goal in the League of Ireland since 2020, having played for Hearts and Perth Glory in the interim.
HEAVILY INVOLVED
McEneff could easily have been involved in another goal when he drilled the ball into the box from the left but Graham Burke’s effort was blocked.
And Rovers’ difficulties at dead-ball situations almost came back to haunt them when Sean Boyd sent a glancing header wide.
McInroy’s delivery was cleared only as far as the Scot who sent it back in again with Boyd getting in behind Honohan with his reaction betraying his annoyance at himself for failing to keep his effort on target.
Odubeko could not test McGinty either with a chance early in the second half after Cleary had only half-cleared a cross into his path.
It was during a sustained period of pressure for the home side but Rovers did well to get bodies in the way of things to keep them at bay.
And there was a similar intervention required at the other end when Barrett headed away a curler from Burke which threatened to evade Kearns.
But the ex-Ireland international did not fare so well when the ball spun loose after a rampaging run from Michael Noonan towards goal.
He was withdrawn shortly afterwards with Aaron Greene sent on in his place. By then, Shels had already introduced Ellis Chapman and JJ Lunney off the bench with the Englishman making a nuisance of himself as he came another point of attack for the home side.
Ali Coote and John Martin were also thrown into the fray to underline Shels’ reluctance to settle for just a point here. They could have nicked it but fell just short.
SUN STAR MAN: Sean Gannon (Shelbourne)
SHELBOURNE: Kearns 6; Gannon 7, Bone 5 (Norris 12, 7), Barrett 5, Ledwidge 7; Caffrey 6, Coyle 7 (Coote 78, 5), McInroy 7 (Lunney 68, 5), Wood 7 (Chapman 68, 6); Boyd 7 (Martin 78, ), Odubeko 6.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty 6; Cleary 7, Lopes 7, Grace 4 (O’Sullivan 4, 6); Honohan 6, Watts 6 (O’Neill 80 4), Healy 7, Grant 6; McEneff 7, Burke 6 (Greene 75, 5); Noonan 6 (Gaffney 80, 4).
REFEREE: N Doyle (Dublin) 6
